By Francesca Lennon, a paediatric nurse, recently set out on a long bike trip to support some of the United Kingdom’s biggest children’s hospices. She traveled 3,200 miles on her bike to raise money from the community. The route gave her a chance to visit each facility in person.
Lennon praised the “good being done every day” at the country’s children’s hospices after completing her ride in 70 days.
She celebrated with a big party at her home in Chenies, Buckinghamshire.
The challenge was dedicated to Henry, a friend’s son who died from acute myeloid leukaemia in February, and his family greeted her at the finish line.
Including gift-aid contributions, the 35-year-old raised more than £87,000 for Together for Short Lives, a children’s palliative care charity which splits funding between the UK’s hospices, and she received a Points of Light award at Downing Street for her efforts along the way.
She told the PA news agency that the homecoming was “absolutely incredible”.
Lennon, who slept on her journey in a campervan driven by her stepfather, said her arrival at each children’s hospice was “uplifting”.
“I would get there at the end of a really difficult day of cycling and everyone was so supportive and so welcoming,” she said.
